Guard rail



March 10, 1953 M. L. ONEALE GUARD RAIL Filed Sept. 27, 1950 1N VENTQK Ml 011G416 MAXZQW ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PA-TEN T OFF ICE Malcolm L. OiNeale, Cha leston, Va. Application September 27, 1950, Serial No; 187,031

This invention relates to guard rails.

It has for its general object the provision of a guard rail particularly adapted to separate adjacent traffic lanes so that both sides are'in a position to function effectively when struck, to resist damage to the guard rail, and minimize preferably of uniform cross-section throughout its length, open longitudinally on its under side,

extending between adjacent posts, encompassing the ends of said posts out of direct contact therewith, and resiliently supported by said posts in such manner as, when struck laterally, to yield laterally against spring pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guard rail of the class described characterized by the absence of protruding portions of the securing devices, so that when sideswiped by an automobile, the tearing of metal by the guard rail is avoided or minimized.

Other objects of the invention will appearas the following description of preferred and'practical embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of the following specification, and throughout the several figures of which the same reference characters have been used to denote identical parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guard rail structure embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, and first to that form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numerals l and 2 represent vertical posts embedded in the highway, preferably in the longitudinal middle of the highway, or between two trafiic lanes. As shown, the posts are metal beams of H cross-section, although the shape or material of which the posts are made is not vital to the invention. The shape shown is desirable, since it provides the webs 3 to which the resilient elements of the guard rail 1 Claim. (01. 256-131) are secured. The guard rail 4 per se comprises a tubular member of such length as to. bridge the distance between two or more posts. $111 the form shown, the guard rail 4 is smooth, offcylindrical curvature, and having an openingor slot 5 extending from end to end, preferably of uniform width throughout, and of greater width than that of the posts. The guard rail 4 overlies the ends of adjacent posts, being telescoped over the ends of said posts, as shown. It is normally maintained out of contact with the posts by means of the stiff leaf springs 6. These springs are used in pairs, one pair foreach post, the springs of a pair being placed symmetrically on opposite sides of the web 3, as most plainly. shown in Figure 3. The springs have straight lower portions 1 which lie Jagainst theweb 3,. said straight portions and web having aligned perforations through which the bolts 8 pass thathold the springs rigidly in place. Above the straight portions 1 the springs 6 are reversely curved,

' first branching outwardlyv with respect to the web 3, and then having upwardly curved portions 9 which are of substantially circular curvature and preferably together encompassing an arc of somewhat more than When the .springs arein a repose position, that is to say,

if they were tightly bolted to the post but free from the encompassing guard rail 4, their diametrical distance part would be somewhat greater than the internal diameter of the guard rail. Consequently, when they are in the guard rail and the bolts 8 are tightened, they exert a powerful outward pressure which holds the guard rail in place, out of contact with the posts I and 2.

In assembling the guard rail structure, it being assumed that the posts I and 2 have previously been embedded, a section of the guard rail 4 of suflicient length to bridge adjacent posts is placed over the posts and jacked up from beneath until it is in the proper position to be secured by the springs 6. These latter members are inserted, one at a time, properly placed against the webs 3, the bolts inserted, and the nuts tightened somewhat. The jacks are then removed and the nuts given a final tightening. Since the interface between the portions 9 of the springs and the inner surface of the guard rail 4 are circular, the guard rail, if it has been slightly misaligned by the jacks, will automatically move into correct position under the pressure of the springs 6, as the bolts 8 are tightened. Adjacent sections of the guard rail may be secured in flush relationship in any suitable manner, as by welding. a welded seam being indicated at IU in Figure 1.

keeps it from becoming loose.

3 In the interest of perfect smoothness in the contour of the guard rail, the burr left by the welding may be removed with a suitable tool such as a portable grinder.

Throughout its entire length this guard rail covers and shields the ends of the posts so that there is little risk of the posts being struck and bent or broken out from their embedment by the impact of the colliding automobile. When the guard rail 4 is sideswiped or more severely struck by the auto vehicle, it moves laterally as a whole, thanks to the resilient mounting afiorded by the springs 6. The cylindrical shape of the guard rail 4 is the optimum shape to produce rigidity and resist bending. Since the guard rail is out of contact with the posts, the impact of the shock will be absorbed by the spring mountings and not communicated directly to the posts. Due to the absence of exposed post ends and of any fastening means protruding from the surface of the'guard rail, injury to life and limb through contact with the guard rail is minimized, as well as damage to the colliding roar.

a hole in the web 3. In installing the bolt 1 I,

coil springs 12 and 13 are placed about said bolt in compression between the web 3 -and the opposite sides .of the guard rail 4. The nut 14 which secures the bolt H is preferably screwed tight enough to slightly narrow the opening 15 between the longitudinal edges of the guard rail, thus creating a'tension agaunst the nut which This form .of the invention is probably not as efficient as that shown in Figures 1, 2 and since it is difficult to install the springs 12 and 13 with a tension commensurate with that attending the springs 6. Furthermore, this form of the invention has the nut and bolt head protruding from the surface of the guard rail. When used .as a guard at the side of the highway, the disadvantage of the protruding nut [4 may be nullified by placing this side of the guard rail structure away from the trafiic lane.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be practical embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and the arrangement of parts, as shown, are by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

What 'I claim as my invention is:

Guard rail structure comprising fixed spaced posts and a tubular member bridging said posts having a longitudinal slot in its lower side throughout its length, wider than said posts, through which the upper ends of said posts extend, said member extending uninterruptedly circumferentially through an arc of more than which symmetrically circumscribe the ends of said posts out of contact therewith, and a pair of similar reversely curved leaf springs symmetrically positioned at opposite sides of said post secured thereto below said tubular member. having their upper curved .ends extending through said slot within said tubular member, said upper ends being arcs of a circle concentric with and of slightly greater radius than the inner circumferential arc of said tubular member when said leaf springs are tightened against said post, whereby said leaf springs resiliently grip said tubular member from within, with holding pressure, maintaining said tubular member out of contact with said post, said holding pressure being the .sole means for connecting said leaf springs and tubular member.

MALCOLM L. ONEALE.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,950,965 Blackburn Mar. 13, 19.34 2,163,809 Rauen June 27, 1939 2,228,652 Dailey Jan. 14, 1941 

